Ronaldo Scores His 981st Career Goal as Al Nassr Beat Neftchi Fergana 3-1
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 981st career goal as Al Nassr beat Neftchi Fergana 3-1 in AFC Champions League Elite matchday two, leaving him 19 short of 1,000.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 981st career goal as Al Nassr beat Neftchi Fergana 3-1 on Monday 12 October 2026 in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite league phase. He now needs 19 more goals to reach 1,000. The win came after a 4-0 defeat to Al Ain in the opening round.
Key points
- Ronaldo scored Al Nassr’s second goal in the 42nd minute, taking his career tally to 981 according to widely reported counts.
- Al Nassr won 3-1 at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh.
- Kick-off was delayed by about an hour after a security alert in Riyadh, according to news agencies.
- Ângelo Gabriel opened the scoring and an own goal by Neftchi’s Anvarjon Gofurov made it 3-1.
- It was Al Nassr’s first win of the campaign after the 4-0 loss to Al Ain.
Match details
The security delay
Kick-off was pushed back by about an hour after a security alert in Riyadh. News agencies linked it to the interception of a missile aimed at the city, and AFP, as relayed by Goal.com, said the players waited in the tunnel until safety guarantees were given. These details come from agency reports and we have not verified them independently.
How the goals came
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 33′ | Al Nassr 1-0: Ângelo Gabriel |
| 42′ | Al Nassr 2-0: Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 51′ | Neftchi 2-1: Alisher Odilov |
| 65′ | Red card for Neftchi’s Ikromjon Alibaev (one report) |
| 78′ | Al Nassr 3-1: own goal by Anvarjon Gofurov |
Reports differ on who set up Ronaldo’s goal. One names substitute Ayman Yahya with a header from a Sádio Mané cross; others name nobody, so we do not state it as fact.
Goal 981 and what it means
Ronaldo scored shortly before half-time. It followed his 980th goal against Al-Diriyah on 9 October. Official totals can differ slightly between data providers, but 981 is the figure used by every report we read.
He needs 19 more to reach 1,000. No date can be given, because it depends on how many matches he plays and on injuries and suspensions.
Al Nassr’s position in the Elite
Al Nassr have three points after the opening 4-0 loss to Al Ain. Goal.com places them eighth in the overall league-phase table, level on points with seventh-placed Neftchi, who are ahead on goal difference. One report gives their next match as a Saudi Pro League trip to Al Ahli on 15 October.
Ronaldo and Portugal
Goal.com reports that Ronaldo is under a provisional suspension from the Portuguese Football Federation after his row with coach Jorge Jesus. It gives no details or duration, and says a final decision is still pending. Ronaldo confirmed on 6 October that he is not retiring from international football. Read more: Ronaldo confirms he will not retire from Portugal.
What is confirmed and what is not
Confirmed: Al Nassr 3-1 Neftchi Fergana on 12 October 2026, Ronaldo’s 42nd-minute goal, and the goals by Ângelo, Odilov and the Gofurov own goal.
Reported by agencies or a single outlet: the reason for the delay, Alibaev’s red card, who assisted Ronaldo, the next fixture and details of the provisional suspension.
Not confirmed: the exact official goal count across data providers, and when Ronaldo might reach 1,000.
Frequently asked questions
How many career goals does Ronaldo have?
981 according to widely reported counts after the Neftchi game; totals can vary slightly by source.
How many goals does Ronaldo need to reach 1,000?
19.
What was the score of Al Nassr v Neftchi Fergana?
Al Nassr won 3-1 in matchday two of the AFC Champions League Elite.
When did Ronaldo score?
In the 42nd minute, making it 2-0.
Related
Sources: Goal.com (match report via AFP); The Sports Encounter (goal timeline and minutes); Asharq Sports and Twasl News (Arabic match reports).
This article was last updated: 14 October 2026 4:53 am
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